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Scholarships Available for Food Loves Tech Expo in NYC

September 10, 2018
Tara Pereira, Vermont Fresh Network

Apply by Wednesday, Sept 19 to the Vermont Fresh Network Conference Program

Richmond, VT - Farmers, chefs, food producers and others working in Vermont agriculture are invited to apply to the third round of Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) Conference Scholarship Program grants. This round of funding supports participation in the Food Loves Tech expo, including access to all panel discussions and “The Future of the Cocktail” opening reception. The expo takes place November 2nd & 3rd in New York City.

Food Loves Tech describes itself as "a first-of-its-kind education by entertainment innovation expo, focusing on how technology shapes and changes the way we cultivate and consume food." The technology discussed goes beyond digital to include innovations in the food system around sustainability, consumer education, alternative ingredients, waste management, and the overall impact of what we eat. It is a project of Edible Brooklyn and Edible Manhattan.

The VFN Conference Scholarship program helps chefs, farmers, food producers, and others working in our local food system attend important conferences beyond our region. Award recipients share what they’ve learned at the conferences back home in Vermont through an event or project of their choosing. These follow up projects also help raise funds for the next round of grants, contributing to the program's sustainability.

This scholarship program began in early summer, 2018, and recipients from the first round are now launching related projects. Claire Georges (Butterfly Bakery of Vermont) has designed a special edition hot sauce inspired by Slow Food Nations in Denver. Bill Cavanaugh (Mad River Food Hub) is presenting “Meat and Mingle” at the Mad River Taste Place, an event that combines an informal chance for the community to meet local farmers with education on sustainable farming practices, demonstration of artisanal butchery, and tasting of hand-made charcuterie products. That event takes place Sept 21.

Anyone interested in applying to the Food Loves Tech symposium can find details at VermontFresh.net - applications are due on Wednesday, Sept 19. The grants cover event registration, lodging, and transportation. The recipient is selected by a committee of current VFN Partner Members.

This inaugural year of the Vermont Fresh Network Conference Program was made possible by funding from the Sustainable Future Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, the Farm to Plate Investment Program at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Chelsea Green Publishing, and several anonymous donations.

About Vermont Fresh Network

The Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, builds relationships between farmers and chefs to create a flourishing local food economy and advocates for transparency in the food system. We verify our members' local food purchasing claims and we help more purchases happen. Since 1996, we have worked to ensure that the farmer-chef connection is a strong part of agricultural development and that consumers can support this work by where they choose to dine. For more information on Vermont Fresh Network visit www.vermontfresh.net. Follow Vermont Fresh Network on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter